Convertible chair.



No. 677,382. Patented .Iuly 2, 190|.

E. L. THOMPSON.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

(Application led Har. 28, 1901.)

(No Model.)

State of Massachusetts, have invented an lmllNiTnD STATES ELWIN L. THOMPSON, OF BALDVINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed March Z8, 1901.

T0 all whom it 71mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, ELwIN L. THoMrsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Baldwinsville, county of Worcester, and

provement in Convertible Chairs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to convertible chairs of the type -which comprises a combined high chair and rocker, readily convertible from one to the other; and it has for its object the simplification of construction of such chairs with increased strength, rigidity, and durability at a decreased cost.

Figure l is a side elevation of a convertible chair embodying one form of my invention elevated. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the chair when lowered to form a rocker. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 00, Fig. 4, showing the seat-base, `the connections` with the cross-legs, and the locking means; and Fig. is a back View of the chair elevated.

The cross-legs Ct l), which serve as legs when the chair is elevated, are longitudinally convexed on their inner under edges, as at ax b, to form rockers when they are spread and the chair Llowered, said legs being arranged in pairs and rigidly connected by transverse rounds o b', respectively, the legs being pivotally connected at 2.

The seat c of the chair O is provided with a rigid depending base, herein shown as comprising rigid depending legs c', secured at their lower ends to side bars c2, which are shown as recessed at c3 to receive the enlarged portions 3 of the outer cross-legs adjacent the pivots 2 when the chair is lowered, the side bars being located above and in the vertical planes of the outside cross-legs a.. The base is fulcrumed on the upper ends of the crosslegs ct by rigid metal straps a, secured to the side bars c2 and pivotally connected at a2 with the cross-legs, while the other pair of crosslegs are connected with the base by a toggle connection comprising links cl d, pivoted at ZX on the base and having their lower ends, which extend below the base, pivotally connected at b2 to the upper ends of the cross-legs -piece f2.

Patent 310,677,382, date@ .my 2, 1901.

Serial No. 513,287. (No model.)

l). As shown, the latter are out away on their outer faces at b3 to leave shoulders b4, which serve as stops for the links when the chair is used as a rocker, as in Fig. 2. The upper ends of the links, which are pivoted to the inner faces of the side bars c2, are shown as rigidly connected by a cross-bar d', so that an archedY bar is formed thereby in connection with the links (l, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

I have provided locking means to maintain the chair elevated, and herein I have shown a bracketfdepending from the back of the seat c, on which bracket is pivoted at fx a hooked latch f', having a beveled end 5 adjacent the hook, its rear end forming a finger- The front hooked end of the latch is maintained elevated by a spring s, interposed between the handpiece and an earff of the bracket, and the links d extend far enough above the pivotal points CZK to permit the cross-bar d' to be swung into position to be engaged by the latch when the chair is elevated, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. At such time the chair is elevated and the links are nearly upright, and owing to the rigid base and the toggle connection described the chair is at such time practically as rigid and firm as a high chair of usual construction, as there can be no swaying movement of the chairseat relatively to the cross-legs.

To convert the chair into a rocker, the iinger-piece f2 is drawn up against the spring s and the latch is lowered sufficiently to release the cross-bar d', which swings forward in the direction of arrow 10, Fig. 3, as the weight of the chair acts to spread the crosslegs, the parts assuming the position shown in Fig. 2, forming a rocker. At such time the -rear ends of the side bars c2 rest directly upon the upper edges of the crossdegs a, and the shoulders b4 act as stops for the links d.

When the chair 'is elevated by lifting the seat portion', the links swing up and rearward, the cross-bar d engaging and riding over the beveled face 5 of the latch and automatically passing into locking engagement by the latch, the bracket f serving as a back` stop for the cross-bar.

A very rm connection between the 'seat portion and the cross-legs U. is effected by ful- ICO cruming upon the latter the short rigid straps 4, which are bolted or otherwise secured to the side bars c2.

Thev construction of the chair is simple, strong, and durable. It is cheap, and whether the chair is elevated or used as a rocker the same is firm and secure and entirely free from swaying movement or rattling.

My invention is not restricted to the pre- -cise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be modified in various particulars without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. ln a convertible chair, pivoted cross-legs longitudinally convex on their inner, under sides to form rockers when the chair is lowered, and rigid transverse connections between opposite pairs of cross-legs, combined with a chair-seat having a rigid base fulcrumed on the upper ends of one pair of crosslegs, links pivoted to the upper ends of the other pair of cross-legs and to the base, and locking means independent of the cross-legs, directly coperating with the links to maintain the chair elevated.

2. In a convertible chair, pivoted cross-legs longitudinally convex on their inner, under sides to form rockers when the chair is lowered, and rigid transverse connections between opposite pairs of cross-legs, combined with a chair-seat having a rigid base fulcrumed on the upper ends of one pair of crosslegs, a toggle connection between the upper ends of the other V-pair of cross-legs and the base, and a locking device independent of the cross-legs, to directly cooperate with the toggle connection when the chair is elevated.

3. In a convertible chair, pivoted cross-legs longitudinally convex on their inner, under sides to form rockers when the chair is lowered, and rigid transverse connections between opposite pairs of cross-legs, combined with a chair-seat having a rigid base fulcrumed on the upper ends of one pair of crosslegs, links pivoted to the upper ends of the other pair of cross-legs and to the base,a cross-bar connecting the links, and a locking device to engage the cross-bar when the chair is elevated.

4. In a convertible chair, pivoted cross-legs longitudinally convex cn their inner, under sides to form rockers when the chair is lowered, and rigid transverse connections between opposite pairs of cross-legs, combined with a chair-seat having a rigid base fulcru med on the upper ends of one pair of crosslegs, links pivoted to the upper ends of the other pair of cross-legs and to the base and extended above the pivotal connection with the latter, a cross-bar rigidly connecting the upper ends of the links, and a latch on the chair-seat to engage the cross-bar when the chair is elevated.

5. In a convertible chair, pivoted cross-legs longitudinally convex on their inner, under sides to form rockers when the chair is lowered, and rigid transverse connections between opposite pairs of cross-legs, combined with a chair-seat having a rigid base fulcrumed on the upper ends of one pair of crosslegs, an arched bar having depending sides pivoted to the base and extended below it, pivotal connections between the lower ends of said extensions and the upper ends of the other pair of cross-legs, and a locking device to engage the arched bar when the chair is elevated.

6. In a convertible chair, pivoted cross-legs longitudinally convex on their inner, under sides to form rockers when the chair is lowered, and rigid transverse connections 'between opposite pairs of cross-legs, combined with a chair-seat having rigidly-attached depending legs, side bars connecting the lower ends of said legs and located in the planes of the outer cross-legs, pivotal connections between the side bars and the upper ends of said outer cross-legs, a toggle connection between the side bars and the upper ends of the other pair of cross-legs, and a locking device to cooperate With the toggle connection when the chair is elevated, the side bars resting on the upper sides of the outer cross-legs when the chair is lowered.

7. In a convertible chair, pivoted cross-legs longitudinally convex on their inner, under sides to form rockers when the chair is lowered, and rigid transverse connections between pposite pairs of cross-legs, combined with a chair-seat having a rigid base fulcrumed on the upper ends of one pair of crosslegs, a toggle connection between the upper ends of the other pair of cross-legs and the base, and a manually-released locking device to automatically engage the toggle connection when the chair is elevated and maintain it in such position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ELWIN L. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

TV. P. ABBOTT, C. C. SPEARE. 

